New world record for organic solar technology with a cell efficiency of 12%

The following
is important because with flexible organic photovoltaic cells,
we are nearing a new era of development for practical solar-based solutions can
be implemented with clever usage of these devices. Efficiency needs to be
higher, but technology is progressing in the right direction and a breakthrough
is inevitable.

Heliatek announced
a record breaking 12.0% cell efficiency for its organic solar cells. This world
record, established in cooperation with the University of Ulm and TU Dresden,
was measured by the accredited testing facility SGS. The measurement campaign
at SGS also validated the superior low light and high temperature performances
of organic photovoltaics (OPV) compared to traditional solar technologies.

Heliatek world record cells with 12.0% efficiency on an active area of
1.1 cm².

The 12.0% record cell on a standard size
of 1.1 cm² combines two patented absorber materials, which convert light of
different wavelengths. Using two different absorber materials creates a
stronger absorption of photons and improves energetic utilization through a
higher photovoltage.

Thanks to OPV's unique behavior at high temperatures and
low light conditions, this 12% efficiency is comparable to about 14% to 15%
efficiency for traditional solar technologies like crystalline silicon and thin
film PV. Whereas those technologies significantly lose cell efficiency with
rising temperatures and decreasing solar irradiation, organic cells increase
their efficiency in these conditions leading to a much higher energy harvesting
in real life environments.

The ultrathin Heliatek Solar Films will be produced in different
transparency levels enabling building glass to harvest energy.

Customers in the building and
construction material industry, in automotive and in light structures, such as
shading and street furniture, are integrating these solar films as energy
harvesting components to increase the functionality of their products.

Dr.
Martin Pfeiffer, co-founder and CTO of Heliatek, added: "Achieving an
unprecedented 12% OPV efficiency is a clear validation of Heliatek's choice not
to focus on printed polymers but to go with vacuum deposited oligomers. This
technology has been used successfully for OLED displays over the last decade.

Vacuum deposition allows for extremely thin yet homogeneous layers down to 5 nm
- that is only one ten thousandth of a human hair or twice the size of a strand
of a human DNA. With this well-controlled, ultra-thin film process we can
deposit a large number of layers on top of each other creating tandem, or even
triple junction cells, to absorb a broader spectrum of light."

The new
world record efficiency for OPV improves the prior record of 10.7%, which was
also set by Heliatek just nine months ago. To achieve this latest leap in cell
efficiency, Heliatek capitalized on its in-house R&D know-how and its
strong ties to leading universities in the field of OPV.

One of
the two absorbers was developed and synthesized by Ulm University's Institute
of Organic Chemistry II and Advanced Materials, headed by Prof. Peter Bäuerle,
co-founder of Heliatek. The cooperation also encompassed Prof. Karl Leo
(co-founder of Heliatek) and Dr. Moritz Riede of the 'Institut für Angewandte
Photophysik' (IAPP) of 'TU Dresden'.

The world record was enabled by
significant R&D support from the German Ministry of Education and Research
(BMBF-Project LOTsE #03EK3505E), the EU FP7 Program (Project X10D #287818), and
the German Research Foundation (DFG Priority Program #1355).

Heliatek's
OPV technology based on small molecules (oligomers) is currently being
transferred to commercial production. The first production line was launched in
spring 2012 and Heliatek Solar Films are already being delivered to industry
partners for product development. The commercialization of first partner
applications with integrated Heliatek Solar Films as energy harvesting
components is expected in late 2013.

About
Heliatek's organic solar film technology:

The key
to Heliatek's success is the family of small organic molecules - oligomers -
developed and synthesized at its own laboratory in Ulm, Germany. Heliatek is
the only company in the world that uses the deposition of small organic
molecules in a low temperature, roll-to-roll vacuum process. Its organic solar
cells are made of nanometers-thin layers of high purity and uniformity.

This
enables the company to literally engineer the cell architecture to
systematically improve efficiency and lifespan. This technology is very similar
to the well-established OLED technology (organic LEDs) except that it operates
in reverse, taking in light to create electricity. This gives Heliatek access
to readily available manufacturing equipment, giving it a fast track to
reliable volume production.